Piston-ring clamp



E. 0. CLARK.

PISTON RING CLAMP. APPLICATION man. SEPT.2, 1919.

1,350,704. Pate ted Aug. 24, 1920.

' I '7 I I Qmnrm fdward Q5/0414 Chrome EDWARD O. CLARK, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 EDWARD S. REDEKER, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

PISTON-RING CLAMP.

Appfication filed September 2, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piston- Ring Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in piston ring clamps, designed particularly as a tool for compressing the rings on a piston preparatory to passing the piston into the cylinder and especially applicable for use in internal combustion engines.

In mounting the piston in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, as is well known, it is necessary to compress the resilient or elastic piston rings before the piston can be slipped into the cylinder bore, each ring being successively compressed as the piston is advanced in the cylinder. 'To facilitate this individual compression of the piston rings I have devised a compressing ring to fit about the piston ring, and in connection with the compressing ring or band, which is separable, I utilize a device of the scissors or crossed arm type for closing and opening the compressing band. And the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts of the ring compressing device as will be hereinafter set forth and enumerated.

In theaccompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, the parts being combined and arranged according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a piston and its rings, together with the device of the present invention in operative relationship thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side view or edge View of a part of-the tool.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View showing a spring clip, of wire, for locking the fingers of the scissors-device to the compressing band.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view showing one of the fingers with a lug thereon for preventing withdrawal or displacement of the finger.

In the preferred form of the invention as Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2 1, 1920. Serial No. 321,071.

shown in the drawings I have utilized the pivoted crossed handles 1, l of the scissors or tweezers type, the pivot being indicated at 2, and the handles are broadened and fashioned as flat portions 3, 3, for proper manlpulation of the tool. At the end of each flat portion, and perpendicular thereto, is provided a projecting pin or jaw 4, provided about midway its length with an annular groove 5 in its outer periphery, and at the junction of the pin w'th the flat portion, a shoulder G is formed.

In connection with the crossed pivoted handles, and pins I utilize the compressing band 7, which is of resilient, flexible, metal, of the proper size as to length and width, and the separated ends of this band are fashioned with a loop 8 formed by bending the material back upon itself, and riveting the bent end to the band as indicated at 9, and the extreme face of the loop is slotted at 10 at a point complementary with the annular slot or groove 5, of the pins. Thus it will be evident that the pins are to 13 passed into the loops at the ends of the band, and when in proper position their relationship will be maintained by the utilization of a spring wire clip 11 of resilient material in order that one of these clips may be slipped through the slot 10 and made to engage in the annular groove 5 of the pins. It will be understood of course that there are two of these spring clips, one for each pin and complementary loops, and they are slipped into place within the slotted loops to clamp the grooved pins as the pins are properly assembled in the loops of the band. An additional precautionary device may be provided in the form of a wedge shaped lug or projection 12, projecting radially at the end of each pin, and inasmuch as the pins are cylindrical as are also the loops, these lugs prevent displacement of the pins from their loops, except when the lugs are alined with the notch 13 in the loop. Thus to pass the pin in the loop, the pin is turned so that the lug may be passed through the notched or angular recess 13, in the nature of a groove in the face of the cylindrical loop, and then when the end of the pin in it projects through the loops, a slight turn will cause the lug to ride on the edge of the loop and the pin may be disengaged from the loop thereafter only when the lug is made to register with the notch Now by spreading the handles, the pins are separated, while by drawing the handles to ether the )ins are drawn toward each other, thus when in position or Fig. 1 the handles are drawn together, the metal band is reduced in diameter, and as it is in contact with the piston ring, also of resilient metal and compressible, the piston-ring is compressed to the exterior diameter ofthe piston with the outer periphery of the ring flush with the outer periphery of the piston, and in this condition the piston with its ring. may be slipped into the cylinder. As shown in the drawing Fig. l the compressing hand does not encircle the entire width of the piston-ring, leaving one edge of the ring to be entered into the cylinder before the band is released and removed for the remainder of the ring to be slipped into the cylinder end. Each ring is compressed separately, although the'two top rings of the usual piston inay be engaged at the same time by the band if desired.

It will readily be apparent that different sizes of bands are to be used with different sizes of pistons, and the crossed handles of the tool may be provided with adjustment devices adapting it to different sizes of bands. 7

hat I claim is The combination with the pivoted, crossed handles having-flat, portions and outstanding pins fashioned with annular grooves, of an open band having end loops supported on the pins, and a spring clip for each pin projecting through aslot in the loop and engaging said grooves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD o. CLARK. 

